Smart Cover can be used to unlock an iPad 2, security flaw reveals [video]

The iPad 2 Smart Cover accessory can be used to gain access to a locked iPad, 9to5 Mac reported on Friday. Here’s how it works: take a locked iPad 2 and hold the power button until the “Slide to Power Off” message appears, and then close the Smart Cover. When you lift the Smart Cover again and tap “Cancel,” the iPad 2 will allow you to access the last application that was open. This could be a big threat for anyone who was accessing contacts, viewing a website or checking email before he or she locked the iPad. The good news is any would-be thief does not have full access to the tablet, only the last application used. The bug has been spotted in iOS 5, although 9to5 Mac said it has also received reports from users noticing the flaw in IOS 4.3. Currently, the best fix for concerned users is to turn off Smart Cover unlocking entirely. A video of a Smart Cover unlocking an iPad 2 follows after the break.

Another huge security flaw is in iOS 5 and Siri. Even if you have a passcode in place as long as you hold the home button you can access Siri and send emails or do whatever you want and it will work flawlessly.

I really like all my apple products but what programer saw this error and thought it was fine? It totally defeats the purpose of a PIN lock.

Anonymous

Most apple fans dont know how to password their toy up

Carmen

Dude, that’s not a flaw. I want to be able to be in my car and access Siri without looking at my phone’s screen at all. Plus, it’s not a flaw because they built in the option to turn that off. It’s can’t be a flaw if it was designed that way. What i’m trying to say is, this is how I want mine to work.

Carmen

Just fucking disable it crybaby.

Chris Allen

Not everyone is knowledgeable about these flaws and they are using them in enterprise and gov’t.

Anonymous

Chris, do you really think enterprises and governments that require super security are running standard off-the-shelf iPhones? They have custom enterprise software installed.

Applesucksfatties

@Pendergast:disqus- hey pender.. sorry to burst your bubble.. but enterprises and government agencies that need secure devices due to information sensitivity aren’t using anything made by Apple.. Personally, I’d feel more comfortable leaving my wallet filled with cash on the front seat of my car with the windows down than I would having any sort of personal information on an Apple product.

Applesucksfatties

yet these things sell like hotcakes. Do they include a disclaimer saying they are about as secure as a wallet full of cash laying on the sidewalk?

Anonymous

That’s a slug

Carmen

Hyperbole.

You’re a fucking idiot.

Applesucksfatties

That is extremely hurtful coming from a guy named Carmen.

notapplefriendly

Like all other of that idiots products, iPads are limited to what he wanted the applesheep to have and do

Carmen

Yeah. He’s an idiot. He didn’t know how to do anything at all ever in life. He’s so dumb. He’d never be able to run a top company successfully because of how much of an idiot he is. Your so right.

Anonymous

Your point is? matter fact why are you talking about the past… Oh wait there isn’t a future for apple.

http://AndroidTaskForce.com Timmy

And the government uses these for being the most secure. LMAO.

Chris Allen

waiting for the day a gov’t official loses their iPad.

Anonymous

More trash about this POS tablet i thought it was dead

Anonymous

I just tried this with a friend’s iPad, since I am not allowed to touch them as a charter member of the Goofan (aka Apple Hater) Nation, and it actually offered up my friends social security, credit card numbers and all loan information. It was amazing. This would never happen with Android, because Google is smart enough to keep all our private information for themselves.

Lilstevie

Nice spin. I’m sure if Steve Jobs were still alive, he’d blame the users for “holding it wrong,” or some other ludicrous explanation.

It SHOULD be off by default. It should be up to the user to make their device unsafe. Oh man, and this stuff is in enterprise now…

Gerald Henn

that is the smartest cover of them all. it can bypass security codes…

Anonymous

Im from england, is it true the us goverment are using these, if so very very scary.

Anonymous

There using blackberry playbooks

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OBYG6BUS75GFU4THFTHF3X6N7E teslan

There is one sure fire way not to worry about this security flaw. Don’t leave your Ipad laying around. Same with the Siri flaw.

Lilstevie

Or, just never put any personal information in it. Or, never power it on, just to be safe. Buy it, and lock it away in a safe place without ever even charging it. Meh, what security flaw!

Anonymous

Just don’t buy that TRASH real simple

morpho4444

Shit what you talkin about willis! we love unsecure products, thats why I hate the playbook

Anonymous

You hate the playbook because your azz cant read or understand QNX

Applesucksfatties

@QNX:disqus .. morpho is on the good side. He was just being sarcastic. :-)

morpho4444

Sorry but QNX is from the evil side… if one day that shit becomes self aware we all are screw…

ala Sky fuckin NET…

In fact, something very funny is that the day that RIM released the Playbook is the same day that Skynet became evil, selfaware, mentioned in Terminator Movie, April 14, 2010, Skynet rised and killed a lot of us

EDIT: God damn I was drunk.. I meant 2011

Anonymous

Ok just making sure

morpho4444

I love KINIX (That is how Dan Dogde pronounce it heheh)
Shit if I could I would let QNX run in my brain… That way I could be responding to RIMFAIL and Scroat at the same time without lags

Anonymous

Wow this is so dumb. Just go into settings and turn it off. Fixed

morpho4444

Yes, if steve wanted it that way, we should all do what he wanted

Chris Allen

And it’s stuff like this is why Apple (and Android) have no reason to be in enterprise.